Electric-alarm system



0,4. JENNE. ELECTRIC ALARM' SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED yNOV. 2l 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET i.

f-EYEZMNEJEMEW C. L .IENNE.

ELECTRIC ALARM SYSTEM.

'APPLxcATmN man Nov. 2. 191e.

` A TTURNEVS www@ c. J.. JENNE.

ELECRIC ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NGV- 2, 3915.

mam Apr. w, 1921.,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ELECTRIC-ALARM SYSTEM.

Application filed November 2, 1916.

.To all ywhom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN J. JENNE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Francisco, in the county ot San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric-Alarm Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention rela-tes to an electrically operated automatic fire, burglar and police alarm system, and it consists in the eombinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

The apparatus includes a central station equipment, equipments at the various subscribers stations and lines connecting the central station with the subseribers station.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system of the type mentioned in which a relatively large number of stations maybe operated on one circuit, this being due to the fact that each station has a shunt magnet operated only in case the protection circuit is opened as will be explained later.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a balancing resistance which will enable the subscriber to open and close his private linesl at will while not altering the resistance ot' his premises as a unit, a cut-out switch bar being provided for this purpose.

A further object of my invention is to provide a system by means of which the balancing ot' the line may be ascertained at the central office or station by bridge tests.

A tui-ther object ot my invention is to save line wire from the central oliice or station to the different places to be protected.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part ot this application, and in which,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the central station equipment and the cir cuits leading therefrom,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing a subscribefs station with a plurality of rooms and equipment for protecting the same,

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a door lock with the cut-out used there-with,

Fig. 4 is a face view of the door cut-out, Fig. 5 is a plan view of one' of the tire signal fuses,

` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

Serial No. 129,122.

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation and in section of the magnet cut-out,

Fig. 7 is a section of a portion of the magnet cut out,

Fg. 8 is an end view of the subscribers cut-out switch, and

Fig. 9 is a side view of the resistance balancing coil.

Fig. 10 is a front View on full size of the subscribers control apparatus shown diagrammatic'ally in Fig. 2,

Fig. ll is an edge view looking down, of the subscribers control board, and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view looking from the right on the line 12-12, Fig. 10.

In carrying out my invention I provide a central station having the equipment illustrated in Fig. l. This includes a register 2, a gong 3, relays'ia, 4l and 4, a galvanom-v 'eter 5,'y the adjustable resistances 6, 7 and 8 respectively, the batteries B and B', the variable resistances 9a, 9b and 9 respectively, the spring jacks 10a, 10 and l0c and the fuses l1. A plug P is arran ed to be connected with any of the jacks 10, l()b and 10 for the purpose of testing the line in the manner hereinafter described. Any suitable control, testing alarm and motive apparatus maybe used in the central station. the station shown being merely illustrative. In order to make the testing of the line easier, the entire set of lines 12a, b, and c are made up to the same total resistance with the variable resistances 9a, b and c- Tlie central station wiring may be of any desired form -for the purpose of enabling the operator to receive a signal and to test the line resistance at any time. The battery has a wire g extending to the ground Gr and to the resistance 8 from which resistance a wire 8 extends to the resistance 7, a wire 7 extending to the galvanometer 5. From the other binding post of the galvanometer a wire 5 connects with the `iack wire 6 which wire is alsoconnected to the resistance 6. The resistances 6 and 7 are connected by the'wire 6 and p indicates the other wire leading from the Wire 6 t0 the plug P.

The alarm bell B? is provided with wires B3, B4, B5 and BG which are connected to the battery B and the arrangement of the galvanometer is such` that if its needle moves more than a predetermined amount Athat thefbell will ring. In testing it will be breaker wheel when it rotates.

noted that the resista-becs 6, T and 8 are arranged so that with 6 and 7 on one side of the galvanometery and 8 and the sub` all three being connected to separate. fuses 1l. The fuses 11 are connected to the resistances 9, 9 and 9 by the wires e, cZ-e, JL and e, d, and said resistances are connected tothe relays ta, it, and 4c by the wires f, f, and the final vsubscriber has a ground wireg. lhe relays are for the purpose of allowing the subscribers to send in individual signals over the local wires L,

L and 2 to the gong and register. However, the type of central oiiice is not material to the invention, any such apparatus as will enable the line to be tested and the signal to be received being usable.

In Fig. 2 i have shown two stations which are to be protected in thesame block. .in order to fully understand the working ot' the system, I am describin in detail thev equipment of each station. `ach subscriber is provided with a day call box 13 of any well known pattern, which call box sends the same signal as the breaker wheel 14 of this apparatus. This apparatus is mounted upon a base 15 which has four binding posts 16, 17, 18 and 19 at one end thereof and it has a suitable case 20 containing the mechanism for driving the breaker wheel la, including a spring drum 21, said spring drum having a projecting pin 22 for a purpose to be later explained. l

On the top oi' the casing 2() there is a `liber block 23 which has contact springs 2.4,

25 on its sides, the latter spring having its end in position to be engaged by the toothed At one end of theplate 15 there is a double pole electromagnet 26 which has a pivoted armature 27 held normally away therefrom by means ot a spring 28 connected to the arniature and to a post 29. A double headed screw 30 confines the armature so that it cannot move more than a given amount when the mag; nets are energized. Extending over the magnet frame and connected with the armature is a finger 31 which finger is in alinelnent with the mark adjacent the letters O. K. at 32 wheny the ma nets are not energif/ed, which letters are or the purpose of enabling the subscriber to know that his local line is in proper condition to be left for the night. Between the casing 20 and mag-nets 26 there is a har 34 Which is pivoted to a post 35 and which bar is for the purpose of short circuiting the magnets out of circuit when a call has been sent in.

The bar 34 carries a small ber roller 36 and a fiber block 37 to which a metallic contact point 38 is secured. See Fig. 7. The liber block 3T moves between two springs' 39, L10 which are secured to the base 15 and to which springsthe cut-out wires 70, 71 are connected. A spring il' carried by a post 42 is used to support the bar 84 when set and a spring Li3 tends to pull the bar 34 and point 38 down to short circuit the mag nets when the pin 22 contacts with said spring 41 when an alarm has been sent in.

On the base 15 there is the subscribers cut-out switch bar la `which passes under a cleat 45 adapted to hold it down so that the spring 46 carried by the said switch bar 'will make a good contact with the Contact blocks 47, 48, and will pass troni one to the other without opening the line. This switch 'lever has a roller 49 at the end thereof at the end oi' which roller there is a fixed spring 50 bearing thereon to compel the switch lever to remain either in the position indicated in Fig. 2 or fully over on the contact plate 4:7, as the case may' he. The switch lever has a bar'51 pivoted thereto which passes under a cleat 52 and which carries a. projecting' lug 53, said lug being adapted to pass .under the roller 36 to reset the bar 34.

The armature 27 has a bar 54C rigidly connected therewith which is pivoted on a pin 55 carried by abracket 56 adjacent the opposite end .ot the base 15. rihe bar 54 has atrip lever 57 rigidly connected therewith which is adapted to release the clock train when the armature 27 is moved by the magnets being energized.

Adjacent the binding posts 16 to 1S) in' elusive are other binding posts 58, 59 between which there is a fiber rod 60 with a resistance wire around it as indicated at 64. The fiber rod 60 has metallic caps at 61., 62 at its ends which are adapted to make an electrical contact with the spring clips 63',

6ft which are electrically connected to the binding posts 58, 59. A clamp 63 surrounds the fiber rod 6() and the resistance wire 64 carried by Said rod. while a short flexible cable connects said clamp with the binding post 59 to complete one of the electrical eircuits.

The Wiring system is as follows: The main lead wire 12a is connected to the binding post 16 while the other main lead wires 12b and 12c lead to other protected blocks. A wire 16X is connected to one oi' the binding posts of the day call box 18, from the other binding post of which a wire 66 extends to the binding ost 19, a wire 67 connecting the latter blnding post with the binding post 18. From the binding post 1S a wire 68 extends to one pole of the magnet 26, while from the other pole thereof a wire 69 extends to the binding post 17. The magnet also has wires 70, 71 connected therewith and with the two contact springs 39, 40, the object being to cut out the magnet when the contact point 3S connects the two springs 39, 4t). Froniytfhe binding post 16 a wire 72 extends to the *binding post 59 and` from there a wire 73extends to the contact spring 21. From the Contact spring 25 a wire 74 extends to the contact plate 48.

From the pivoted vend ot the switch bar est a wire 7 5 extends to the binding post 17. From the contact plate 47 a wire 76 extends to the binding post 58, which latter' is electrically connected with the binding post 59 by means of the resistance wire 64 and cable 65 previously mentioned. From the binding post 17 a wire 77 extends out to the premises to be protected and back to the binding post 18. The said wire 77 passes around the front door 78 around the building andhas suitable burglar alarm devices of any desirable type at 79, said burglar alarm devices forming no part oit the present invention. 1n its course around the building the wire 7 7 may extend as often as may be desired to the porcelain blocks 80, two of such blocks being shown in the present instance, although the number ma be more or less. These porcelain blocks carry springs 81, 82 which are electrically I connected to the local wire 77 and whichr are electrically connected to cach other by means of the fusible link 83, said link being of such a material as to melt at a temperature ot from 150 to 200 degrees, thereby breaking the electric circuit between the springs 81,82.

Thecourse of the electiic current from the battery B under normal condition-sis through the wire c, to fuse 11, wired? to contacts 10, wire e to resistance 9, wire f to contact block 4 and connection with wire 12a which is connected with -the binding post 16 on the subscribers base plate 15. From the post 16, the current will travel via the wires 72 and 73 to the contacts 24, 25 to wire 71, to switch. 44, wire 75 and binding post 17. From the binding` post 17 the current will divide and pass via wire 6), magnets 26 and wire 68 to binding post 1S, the other portion of the current passing around the building through the wire 7T back to the binding post 18. From the binding post 19 the current will pass via wire 67 'to binding post 19, then b y wire 66 to call box 13 to wire 16X connected with a wire corresponding to 12*L in the next premises, and after leaving the last subscribers premises will pass through the wire f/ to the ground. 'lheiothcr side ot' the battery is grounded by the wire y/ whereby the circuit is completed.

Each line wire 12, 12b and 12C is similai-ly connected up with diti'ercnt series of subscribers.

lVhen the protection circuit has been broken -at a door or window all oit the current will be thrown on the magnets 26 with the result that the' clock train will be released and thc pin 22 will strike the' latch 41 and drop the arm 34 whereupon the housecircuit will pass from the binding post 17 to the binding post 18 via wires 69, 70, contacts 39, 40, and wires 71, 68, both the protection circuit and the magnets being then cut out, but as a signal is in process of being sent in the change in line resistance is a matter of no moment.

In order to enable the subscriber or other person authorized to enter the building` a front door is provided with a lock Set having a slidable bolt 85 w ich slidable bolt engages a fiber block 86 carrying a metallic point 87, said metallic point being adapted to electrically connect the two Contact plates 88, 89 when the door has been opened with a suitable key. The contact point- 87 is pushed into engagement with the two plates 88, 89 when the bolt is withdrawn, by means ot a suitable spring 90.

lVires 91, 92 are connected to the wire 77 so that when the Jfront door is opened by having the lock opened, tliefront door will be cut out ot' circuit thereby enabling the owner ot the. store or oitice to go into the building without sending in an alarm.

ln the installation of the al'iparatus the resistance wire 64k from the binding post to the binding post 5S) is arranged by shitti ing the clamp 63 to precisely equal the resistance ot' the wii'e used throughout the protected building, the object being to maintain the line at all times save when the owner opens the trout door at the same resistance, thereby enabling the central ottico to know that the line has not been tampered with by 'unauthorized persons. The reduction in line resistance due to opening the front door is so small that it will not altect the line. The subscriber then shifts his level' 44 thereby shitting the line resistance from his premises to the resistance wire 64, which resistance wire has been at the installation of the apthe wire 75 to post 1T. lt thel protection cii'-,

cuit is broken` the arm 34 will be -dropped and the magnets will be shuiited, lint no signal will be sent since there is no contact with the wire 74. 'It the protection circuit is not broken. the circuits will remain as tirst eX- plained. rlhc circuits external to the protected premises will always remain the same i'io except when testing as will be further explained.

lVhen the subscriber is ready to lock up at night he will go-around and close all of his doors and windows including his front door and will throw the bolt in it, whereupon he will shift the lever 44. It his line is lintact the pointer 31 will remain at the 0. K. position. Hc can then go and unlock his front door and pass out and lock it knowing that the premises will be adequately protected. On the other hand if when he shifts his lever 44. the clock train starts to move he must at once shift the lever 44 back to the contact 47. This will prevent the signal from being sent and as soon as the pin Q2 travels around once, the clock train will be stopped by the har 5T. The signal cannot be sent at this time since contacts 24, 25 are then out of circuit and when the clock train starts, it is several seconds before the breaker wheel touches the spring 25. The subscriber can then go around his premises and ascertain the cause ot the trouble with his local circuit. li' it is due to a window being open he can close that, crit he cannot ascertain the trouble he can shift his lever 44 to the co'iitact 48 and permit an alarm to be sent' in, whereupon an investigation ot' his premises will be made.

VThe circuits of all the subscribers in one block are made in series' with the exception that the magnets 26 in each subscribers premises 4are shuntcd wires extending around the subscribers premises, so that said magnets are not energized by the current traveling to a suilicient extent toA draw up their armatures unless the local circuit wire 77 is broken at some point and as soon as the break is made and the signal sent the magnet will be cut out of circuit thereby reducing the total line resistance by one subscriber, but inasmuch as an alarm has been sent in at this time proper arrangements at the central oilice' can be iliade. to ascertain the proper line resistance under such conditions.

Should a tire occur in any subscribers store one oi' the fusible links 83 will bc melted and will at once biealr the subscribei"s local circuit, sending in an alarm in pre cisely the saine way as the alarm is sent in by the breaking of the circuit at one ot' the windows or doors.

It is to he observed that whlen the sub` scriher pushes his lever 44 to the lett', F ig. 2, that at the same time it raises the arm 8'4 and allows the spring 41 to hold it up, whereupon the local circuit and magnet circuit will be in parallel again, but inasmuch as the magnet circuit is of much greater resistance than the local circuit, said magnets will not be energized. When the switchv lever 44 is moved to the right, Fig. 2, so

much of the resistance wire 64' as isrewith respect to the times.

quired to balance the local circuit will be in series with the magnets 26 and protection circuit which two latter are in parallel."

Thereupon the current will still flow through.

the protection circuit and through the magnets 26, but shortly after the switch lever 44 has been thrown to the contact 47, the protection circuit will be opened at some point by the subscriber and the magnets 26 isopen, a signal may be sent from the day call box 13. At the central station l have shown lines 1Q, 12b and 12 which extend to separate blocks. Each of these blocks is on a separate circuit and the subscribers sub-stations of any particular block are arranged in seiies. The arrangement is such thatthe resistance which is brought into the circuit as described is equal to that of the loop which it replaces so that there is a balanced condition.A which condition may be ascertained at the central station by inserting the plug P in one of the jacks 10a, 10b and l0, and making a test by the Wheatstones bridge set.

By this means the centra-.l office can determine the condition ot any "circuit at all rlhe best of these circuits is made periodically by the attendant at the ,central station and thus the condition ot the *whole* system may be accurately determined at all times. i

Let us assume that the operator is to test a` circuit of the set 12, b or c.

long enough time to'be.

The resistances 9, and C are set to make the saine total resistances in all the line circuits and the resistances at the galvanometn"I are set so that the galvanometer needle will read zero when a resistance corresponding to the total resistance of one of the lines isI placed across the plug P. The plug is then inserted in one of the spring jacks 10, b or c and so long as the gi lvanometer needle reads within a few ohms of zero, the operator-1 knows the circuits are in proper condition` for the sending of a signal and the lines not tampered with. lf the galvanometer needle reads over or under five ohms, that being a standard multiple used for the local circuits in the subscribers premises, the attendant will `send out several patrolmen to investigate .all the premises on the line found to be at fault. e

The central operator has keys for each proterted place under seal. and after the seal is broken the patrolmen take out the `keys to find out which "place is lcausing thetrouble,

after which the keys are returned to be resealed. ln the event that the premises are so opened, the owner is advised of such entry.

I claim:

l. An alarm system comprising a central station having suitable 4 registering and alarm apparatus, a plurality of subscribers stations, each station having a closed loop around the building to beprotected, the loops ofthe various stations being in series, electrical connections between the central station and the series of loops, means at each subscribers station for transmitting its individual signal to the central station on the breaking of the loop at any point or the increase of resistance thereof, and manual means for shunting the loop when the latter is broken or the resistance thereof increased, to maintain the circuit connections with the other loops ot the series at the original resistanee.

2. An alarm system comprising a central station having suitable registering and alarm apparatus, a plurality of subscribers stations, each station having a closed loop around the building to be protected, the loops of the various stations being in series, electrical connections between the central station and the series of loops, means at each subscribers station for transmitting-its individual signal to the central station on the breaking of the loop at any point or the increase of resistance thereof, and manual means for shunting the loop when the latter is broken or the resistance thereof increased, to maintain the circuit connections with the other loops of the series, the shunt around each loop having a resistance equal to the resistance of the loop whereby the line is balanced at lall times.

3. An alarm system comprising a central station having suitable registering and alarm apparatus, a plurality of subscribers stations, each station having a loop around.

the building to' be protected, the loops or the various stations being in series, electrical connections between the central stat-ion and the series of loops, means at each subscribers station for transmitting its individual signal to the central station on the breaking of the loop at any point or the increase of resistance thereof, manual means for shunting the loop when the latter is broken or theiresistance thereof increased, to maintain the circuit connections with the other loops ot' the series, the shunt around each loop having a resistance equal to the resistance of the loop whereby the line is balanced at all times, and means at the ccntral station for'testing the balanced condition of the circuit.

4. An alarm system eon'iprising a central station having suitable registering and alarm apparatus', a plurality et cls-lits extending from said central station, each of said circuits comprising a plurality of subscribers stations, each station l having a closed loop and the loops of the stations on any one circuit being arranged in series, a shunt around each loop having the same lesistanee as the loop, and manual means at each station for switching circuit to the shunt on the breaking of the loop whereby the balance ot' the entire circuit is lmaintained. p

5. An alarm system comprising a central station having suitable registering and alarm apparatus, a plurality of circuits ex# tending from said central station, each of said circuits comprising a plurality 0f subscribers stations, each station having a closed loop and the loops of the stations on any one circuit being arranged in series, a shunt around each loop having the same resistance as the loop, manual means at each station for switching circuit to the shunt on the breaking of the loop whereby the balance of the entire circuit is maintained, and means at the central station for ascertaining the balanced condition ot any ot said-V circuits. v

6. In a signal system a central receiving' and testing station, a closed circuit extending therefrom, a closed house circuit, a magnet circuit in parallel with the latter circuit, both of said circuits forming a part of the central station circuit, signal sending means, means operated by said magnet when fully energized to start the signal sending means, means to thereupon cut the magnet out ot circuit and means to balance the house circuit to leave the line at the original resistanee.

7. An electric signal system comprising a central receiving and testing station, an electric circuit extending therefrom, a house circuit, a magnet in parallel with the house circuit and both the latter circuits forming a part ot' the circuit extending' to the central station, signal sending means, means a'hcrel'iy the magnet starts the operation ot' signal sending means upon changes in the house circuit, means to thereupon cut the magnet out et the circuit and manual means to insert a balancii'ig resistance to leave the line at the original total resistance.

8. An electric signal system comprising a central receiving and testing station, an electric circuit extending therefrom, a plurality ot' closed house circuits, a magnet circuit in parallel with each oi the house circuits all of which. house and magnet circuits being in series with each other und forming a part oiu the circuit extending to the central station, a signal sending means at cach house circuit, means whereby the magnets adjacent each house circuit will cause the seuding of the signal when their adjacent house circuit is interfered Wh and means to out the magnet ont of the circuit and to institute Jehere'for a balancing 'resistance substantially equivalent to the resistance of the 5 house Circuit when the latter is ont out.

9. An electric signal system comprising a central receiving and testing station, an electric circuit extending therefrom, a plu-- ralty of closed house circuits in series with 10 each other and with the former circuit, a

magnet in parallel with each individual house cirenit, signal sending means adjacent each house circuit, means whereby the .magnetrcauses the operation of the signal sending means when its adjacent house oireuit is interfered with, means to thereupon eut the magnet out-of the circuit and manual means `i0 balance the house circuit to leave the line at the original resistance.

CHRST'IA'N JOHN JENNE. 

